The 2017 Wake Forest Dementia Awareness Education Series begins Thursday, July 20, with “The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.” The series continues Thursday, Aug. 17, with “Effective Communications Strategies” and concludes Thursday, Sept. 21, with “Understanding & Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors.” Each session will take place inside the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre at  405 Brooks Street. Presented by the Renaissance Centre and the Alzheimer’s Association of Eastern North Carolina, these workshops will address a variety of dementia-related topics while also offering local families the opportunity to learn about dozens of related programs, services, products, and resources – all in one location. “The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease” on July 20 is intended for anyone interested in learning more about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. “Effective Communications Strategies” on Aug. 17 will provide tips on how to have honest and caring conversations with family members about deciding

It happens often enough that Wake Forest business owners do want to know how the Wake Forest Police Department is trained to interact with the elderly, especially those struggling with dementia. An elderly man comes into the store and appears confused and disoriented. After you take him to a quiet place and dial 911, what happens next? Or a customer reports that her elderly father with dementia has wandered away from your waiting room. How does the police department respond? Or a patient tells the receptionist that her daughter is poisoning her and the two family members begin loud arguing and fighting in your waiting room. What can be done? SING-WF (Senior Information & Networking Group of Wake Forest) is sponsoring a community-wide meeting Friday, July 28, to answer the question. They have invited Captain Matthew May to explain how the town’s officers assist with situations involving seniors in mental or

Sponsors are needed for the ninth annual Wake Forest Purple Heart Banquet at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at Richland Creek Community Church. Hosted by the Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation, the banquet invites the public to help honor those wounded in battle. In addition to Purple Heart Medal recipients and their families, the event is open to all veterans, military families, and the public. Last year’s celebration saluted 60 Purple Heart recipients from around the Triangle. This year’s banquet features retired Army Maj. Gen. Douglas Lanier Carver as keynote speaker and includes the Walk of Honor, entertainment, patriotic tributes, and a catered meal. Sponsors make this tribute possible. Sponsorship levels are Premier ($1,000), Blue ($500), White ($250) and Red ($100). For sponsor details, call Marty Coward at 919-792-0316 or email marty.coward@edwardjones.com. Contributions may be made payable to Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation, P.O. Box 168, Wake Forest, NC, 27588.

The Wake Forest Public Art Commission will host a special reception to formally open its Wake Forest Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit and Spotlight on Wake Forest Artists Exhibit on Saturday, July 29. The event will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts Annex at 407 Brooks Street. Light refreshments will be provided. The reception will have an informal, open house-style format, so area residents are invited to drop in any time between 2 and 4 p.m. Commission members and several of the featured artists will be on hand to answer questions and share information about the selected works of art. Free, illustrated maps highlighting the locations of the works on view for each exhibit will be available during the reception. Area residents who are unable to attend the reception but wish to take the self-guided tour may also pick up a brochure at

The second annual Wake Forest Guild of Artists and Wake Forest ARTS Art Exhibit will be held Sunday, July 23, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Renaissance Centre Arts Annex on Brooks Street Over 20 artists will display their works of art in a variety of mediums and styles, including acrylic, oil and watercolor paintings, sculpture, jewelry, glasswork, encaustic, woodworking, and mixed media. Free and open to the public, the event offers an exciting opportunity for area residents to see firsthand what local artists offer the community.  

The Wake Forest Food Truck Rodeo will be back in town on Sunday, July 23, from noon to 4 p.m. in the Renaissance Plaza on Brooks Street with 17 trucks, a beer tent provided by Brooks Street Bowl, and a bouncy house and other fun games and treats for children. The lineup of trucks include Arepa Culture, Baton Rouge, Captain Ponchos Tacos, Charlies Kabob, Chez Moi Bakery, Cousins Maine Lobster, Cut Bait Café, Ed’s Q on Wheels, Fahsyrah’s Lemonade, Hibachi Xpress, Jam Ice Cream, Lumpy’s Ice Cream, Morfa Empanadas, Moonrunners, Sarges Chef, Sweet Traditions and Virgil’s Jamaica. In the Kid’s Zone there will be free face painting sponsored by The Learning Experience, a bouncy house, road chalk, hula hoops, ball toss and bubble fun. Brooks Street Bowl is giving special discounts on bowling while a variety of vendors will be selling crafts and merchandise and promoting their services. The Food

Wake Forest Arts and the Wake Forest Farmers’ Market invite artisans and craftspeople to participate in the second annual Wake Forest Holiday Artisans’ Market. The Market will take place Saturday, Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. inside the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre on Brooks Street in downtown Wake Forest. The Holiday Artisans Market will showcase a wide variety of items handmade within 75 miles of the Renaissance Centre. The application deadline is July 31. To apply online or download an application form, visit wakeforestarts.org/artists/artisans-market. The Wake Forest Holiday Artisans’ Market is a unique gift-shopping opportunity featuring many types of crafts in a wide range of prices. The event is held annually in conjunction with the Downtown Wake Forest Holiday Open House. Wake Forest Farmers’ Market winter booths will remain open as usual in front of the Renaissance Centre that day.  

This month’s Business After Hours on Thursday, July 20, is hosted by Coastal Federal Credit Union. While you network with your fellow Chamber members, enjoy food and desserts catered by The Mac House and Bakery La Dolce Vita. Download the free Socio app to be eligible to win door prizes, including two concert tickets to Coastal Music Park, a gift card from The Mac House, and other great prizes. * * * *   A new Schmoozapalooza is the next event on the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce’s calendar. The high-speed networking event is Friday, July 14, and registration is now open. Seats are limited. The cost is $20 per person and it is open to both members and nonmembers. Go to the chamber’s website, www.wakeforestchamber.org to register. * * * * Also next week is the deadline, July 15, for a $50 discount on your booth at the

You might be able to still sign up for the annual Willie Ray Cookout with a luau and each party theme that will happen Thursday, July 13, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Renaissance Centre on Brooks Street. There will be fun, food, great entertainment in an event that also honors our veterans and first responders. Space is limited to 200 people. Our volunteers were honored, and Dorothy Maynard was named the Unsung Hero of the Year. Four people – Arra Johnson, Mary Evelyn Jones, Bertha and Wilson Salgado – were named as Lifetime Award winners for contributing over 4,000 hours to the center. Aileen Izawa, Joyce Massey and Dorothy Maynard were named to the Gold 500+. Soon it will be the Senior Center Without Walls when the center closes for a major expansion, almost doubling the current space. While it is underway, Miranda Strider-Allen and the staff are

*The Wake Forest Farmers Market will be held in Renaissance Plaza on Brooks Street Saturday, July 15, from 8 a.m. to noon. See the market’s Facebook page for vendors. *Monday Night Bingo at The Factory is hosted by the Wake Forest Kiwanis Club in the Mill Room from 7 to 9:30 p.m. every Monday night. All profits support the club’s projects for children. Visit www.wakeforestbingo.com for more information. *Overeaters Anonymous meets on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at the Wake Forest United Methodist Church, 905 South Main Street. Enter through the back by the office. No dues, fees or weigh-ins. Everyone welcome! Contact Jennifer at 928-225-5236. *Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry at 149 East Holding Avenue is now open from 9 to 11 a.m. every third Saturday along with its regular hours on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for food distribution. It serves about 700 families in Wake